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**Hello! Are you prepared for today’s Wordle?**
If you’ve arrived here, it’s likely time to take on today’s Wordle challenge. As always, we’ve got your back with useful insights and techniques to steer you towards the answer.
If you’re simply in search of today’s Wordle solution, scroll to the end of this article. But if you’d prefer to figure it out for yourself, stick around for some advice and hints to assist you.
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### **The Birth of Wordle**
Wordle was first developed by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his significant other. It rapidly gained worldwide fame, attracting thousands of players who enjoyed the everyday word challenge. Enthusiasts even crafted their own versions, like the competitive **Squabble**, the music-centered **Heardle**, and multi-word puzzles such as **Dordle** and **Quordle**.
The game’s immense popularity led to its acquisition by *The New York Times*. It has even motivated TikTok creators to broadcast their attempts at solving the puzzle live.
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### **What’s the Optimal Wordle Starting Word?**
The ideal starting word is ultimately your choice, but if you seek a tactical advantage, we have some recommendations. A strong starting word often includes at least two distinct vowels and prevalent consonants such as S, T, R, or N. [Check out our guide for more advice](https://mashable.com/article/best-wordle-starting-word).
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### **What Happened to the Wordle Archive?**
The original Wordle archive, which enabled players to revisit previous puzzles, was removed at *The New York Times*’s request. However, the *Times* subsequently created its own Wordle Archive, accessible solely to NYT Games subscribers.
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### **Is Wordle Becoming More Difficult?**
It may seem like Wordle is getting tougher, but don’t worry—it’s no harder than when it debuted. If you’re in search of an additional challenge, you can always turn on Wordle’s **Hard Mode** in the settings.
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**RELATED:**
– [NYT’s The Mini crossword answers for December 19](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-mini-crossword-clues-answers-december-19-2024)
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### **Hints for Today’s Wordle**
– **Subtle hint:** It signifies “deviating off track.”
– **Double letters?** No, there are no repeating letters.
– **Starting letter:** Today’s Wordle starts with the letter **S**.
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### **Today’s Wordle Answer Is…**
It’s time to finalize your guesses! Ready?
**Drumroll, please…**
The answer to today’s Wordle is: **STRAY.**
If you didn’t guess it this time, don’t fret—there’s always tomorrow! We’ll return with more hints and strategies to assist you in cracking the next puzzle.
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**Are you also playing NYT Strands?** [Check out today’s hints and answers for Strands](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-december-17).
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**Looking for more puzzles?**
Mashable now presents a wide range of games, including Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and more. [Visit our games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) to explore all the options!
Missed yesterday’s Wordle? [Here’s the solution to December 18’s puzzle](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-december-18-2024).
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*Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg.*